Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-17
DECOR STOVES.
The Craze for stoves Ornamcnted
with Fancy Tiles ana Bronze

Images.
An unusually large number OF stove
dealers from out OF town, says the New
York WaH and ErpreSS, have been in
the city the last few days purchasing
their iaIl supplies. There is the live
lest sort of craze for stoves orna-
mented with fancy tiles and bronze
images.
why, the stove has now got to be
as ornamental as any other part of the
house." said Mr.. Henry Gleason, an
active member of the Republican Club,
who has made the subject of stove-de-
coration a special study for years,
land the consequence is that just now
all the manufacturers are doing
their best to get ahead OF one
another in this matter of stove
decoration. The result will be to
put on the retail market this fall
stoves that in ornamention will sur
pass anything ever before made. You
remember when Oscar Wilde was here
about six years ago? Well, the change
began then, and was caused by his
criticising our stoves and calling them
of q punp-log style, decorated with fu-
neral urns. That same year company
was started to make tiles and bronzes
for stoves, and the result is seen to-day
in complete revolution in the stove
trade. Now the manufacturersare try
ing to see who can turn out the most
giddy stove. They are putting lots OF
money in it, too. Many recent models
are from plaster casts, and / know of
complete sets of castings that cost
$40, coo and S15, 900 each.
Among the bronze figures that are
the rage for stoves are Roman warriors,
gladiators, Knights of the Red Cross
on horseback, Charles v, Joan of Arc,
which is a great favorite, and many
"Mikado characteristics. One of the
favorite pieces is 1.-The Flute Player"
which was modelled after the original
in the Stewart collection. The figure
is placed on the top of the stove and
does away wholly with all suggestion of
the funeral urn" All these bronzes
are so tasteiully gotten up and look so
much like the real article that, as a rule,
they are taken from the stove and used
as mantel ornaments during the sum-
mer.
Another reason given why they are
so greatly in favor is that system has
been discovered here for making them
very cheaply. Sometimes the models
are designed in this country, but in
most cases an imported French
bronze piece is bought and used as a
model. This costs perhaps 80. The
purchased model is divided into pieces
with the aid of q blow-pipe, and q sepa-
rate plaster cast is made of each piece.
This is done because it is impossible to
cast cheaply the entire figure In one
mould. From these plaster casts brass
moulds are made, which, when finished,
are given to the casters. Then
begins the work OF making the figures.
One caster has, for example, the mould
of the left arm, another that OF the
right arm, and so on until all parts are
distributed. The different casters fill
their ladies with molten spelter, each
ladleful being enough to make a num-
Der of casts. Holding the mould in his
left hand, which is protected by
covering Of heavy cloth the caster
quickly pours the spelter through a
funnel.shaped orifce at one end OF the
mould. until the latter is filed. AS soon
as the mold is filled the spelter is
poured back INTO the ladle, leaving
thickish shell clinging to the inside OF
the mould. With single blow the
latter is opened and out drops com
plete cast of silyery-lOoking metal, the
entire operation not having taken more
than five seconds. The pieces are then
taken to the trimmers, who, with ma
chinery, cut away the uneven edges:
Next the pieces are carefully joined
and soldered by expert workmen. The
next operations are bufhng, or
smoothing the surface, which is done
with mixture of grease and fine sand
and washing" which is to dip the
figure in potash and then wash It,
Then the figure is ready for the platter,
who gives it wash in brass, copper,
or other solutions, after which the
finishing touches are put on and 1t is
ready for market. The figure can be
sold for 81, with a reasonable profit lett
for the manufacturer.
IL is estimated that Of tiles to be used
in decorating stoves more than one
m lion will be sold this year. Ihey
are made in all tints and sizes, and Ia
colors the American make now excels
both the French and the English.
More than three hundred designs
have recently been made up here, IN,
GLIDING romantic and ideal heads ana
scenes, warriors, celebrated people,
flowers, etc.. and the like. They are
placed on all possible parts OF the stove